Supes will chat more on Robbins rates

A decision by the Sutter County Board of Supervisors on the future of water and wastewater rates in Robbins is being pushed back to October.

Public Works Director Doug Gault said last week the public hearing on the rates originally continued to Tuesday's board meeting will be continued to Oct. 22 in order to hold additional ad-hoc committee meetings in the south Sutter County town.

The hearing began on July 28 in Robbins, when County Administrator Larry Combs asked for the continuance in order to review an alternative rate proposal brought by Robbins residents.

Robbins, which has a population of about 400 residents, has not seen any changes in its water rates since 1992, or in its sewer rates since 1997. The monthly residential rate are $22.50 for water and $32.50 for sewer.

However, the county says the costs of operating the system exceed the revenues brought in through fees, and increases are needed to get the district out of the red.

The increases that Water Resources Chief Dan Peterson said are needed to balance the district's revenues would be a minimum of $99.40 per month for water and $77.80 for sewer.

The residents presented a counterproposal for a gradual increase, reaching $50 a month for sewer and $50 for water by March 2009.

Three ad-hoc committee meetings have been scheduled. The first is for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Robbins Community Hall.